Tension device for wire fences



(No Model.)

WI H I TENSION DEVICE FOR WIRE PEN-CBS.

No. 536,332. Patented Mar. 26, 1895.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM 11. Fox, OF BLUFFTON, INDIANA.

TENSION DEVICE FOR WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,332, dated March26, 1895.

Application filed November 19, 1894- Serial No. 529,223- (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. FOX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Blufiton, in the county of Wells and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Devices for WireFences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in tension devices for wire fences,the object of thesame being to provide a device of this character whichis adapted to be secured to one of the posts of which the fence is madeup and to tighten the wires thereof when the same become loose for anyreason, or during the process of making the fence.

The invention consists of a frame slotted for the passage of the wiretherethrough and having two side flanges which are parallel to oneanother and are perforated for the reception of the winding drum, thesaid drum consisting of a shaft, one end of which is formedrectangularly in cross-section for the attachment of the operating keythereto and the other end of which has a shoulder which abuts againstthe inner side of the flange in which it is mounted having an outerextension about which the tightening nut is screwed. V

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 represents a side view of my device shown attached to oneof the posts of which the fence is made up. Fig. 2 is a de tached viewof the same looking at the front thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view of thewinding drum or bolt.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the various views. 7

1 represents the frame of which the device is made, which is slotted atits center at 2 for the reception of a wire 3 of which the fence is madeup. This slot 2 registers with a similar opening through a fence post.The frame 1 is preferably formed of sheet metal and has two parallelside flanges 4, 4, which have aligned openings therein, as shown. Inthese openings works my winding drum or bolt 7, the same being formedwith an outer square end S for fixing an operating key thereto slottedat 9 for securing the wire 3, and formed with a shoulder 10 which abutsagainst one of the side flanges 4, 4, when the same is tightened- Theouter end of the drum or bolt is formed with a threaded extension 11about which passes a tightening screw 12, the same being formed withright hand threads.

The device as just described is secured to the post 13, as shown in Fig.1, by means of screws or in any other suitable way, and one end of thewire 3 is fastened to the drum or bolt 7 through the slot 9 therein.When it is desired to tighten the wire, a key is affixed to the squareouter end of the drum or bolt 7 and the same turned to the left, therebywinding the wire 3 upon it. When the requisite tension has been secured,the nut 12 is screwed up on the projection 11, clamping the drum or bolt7 against the flange 4, by means of the abutment of the shoulder 10thereon. This holds the wire securely in its tightened position, thetension thereon tending to tighten rather than loosen the nut 12 on thedrum.

It will be seen that I have invented a tension device which is verysimple in construction, canbe cheaply made by reason of the fact that itcan be stamped out of sheet metal and 'made from a single piece, and canbe quickly tightened or loosened.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- Atension device for wire fences consisting of a frame made of a singlepiece of sheet metal, slotted for the reception of the.wire therethroughand formed with side flanges, a drum or bolt mounted for rotation insaid flanges and fitting loosely one of said flanges the said drumhaving a shoulder near one end and a threaded extension leadingoutwardly therefrom and passing through said flange and a nut adapted toengage said threaded extension and clamp it securely against saidflange, substantially as and for the purposes specified In testimonywhereof I have signed this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. FOX.

Witnesses:

J EANNETTE P. TODD, GEORGE W. BAYHA.

